BRITISH COALFIELD CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 9

BRITISH COALFIELD CRISIS

RIGHTS OF MINING PEOPLE

“BETTER THAN PAUPERISM”

•SERIOUS POSITION FACED

By Telegraph—Press’ Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association.

United Service. London, July 22. There was a tense atmosphere at the Miners’ Federation conference at Blackpool.

Mr. Herbert Smith, in his presidential address, stated that the federation was facing a serious position. Unemployment had increased and the membership of the unions had declined.

Charity had assisted in saving a whole section of the community from perishing from starvation, declared Mr. Smith. The mining population was entitled to look forward to something better than

pauperism. Reorganisation and national co-opera-

ion were essential to the salvation of

the industry, but, he said, the national scheme was only a preliminary canter towards national regulation. Only the nationalisation of the mines, minerals and by-products would ultimately save the industry from ruin. The federation, he declared, was confidently anticipating a reduction of hours during the present year. The conference- would be given an opportunity' privately and frankly to discuss Mr. MacDonald's reply to last week’s deputation, which had waited upon him from the federation.